Tonbridge (1) 2 Burchill 28, Long 54
Carshalton Athletic (0) 0
Att. 284
Entrance: £10
Programme: £2
Mileage: 26/6,115
Match Report
Tonbridge suffered through the turnstiles at the hands of Jose Mourinho on Tuesday evening, but those that stayed away to watch, from the comfort of their armchairs, the Special One in Champions League action missed a special goal.Sam Long will not be featuring on any Champions League highlights this week but his goal was of a quality to grace those auspicious heights. The young winger collected the ball on the half way line, and as defenders backed off, no doubt worried by the pace that had frightened them previously, he let fly from 25 yards with a shot that curled into the top right hand corner for a truly memorable strike.
In recent weeks Tonbridge have moved steadily away for the relegation places and positioned themselves in mid-table, but the congestion around them makes it not unthinkable that a play-off push could still be made.
In this game against Carshalton, the side that ended their play-off hopes last term at Longmead, Tonbridge played football that was pleasing on the eye and deserving of a greater margin of victory. The home side took a first half lead on 28 minutes when Adam Burchill kept his composure, capitalising on a mistake in the centre of the visitors’ defence to run on and slip the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper. Burchill is a young and lively player unable to stake a regular place in the champions-elect Dartford side and Tonbridge are reaping the benefit of a loan spell. Both Long and Burchill were released by Gillingham having been considered “too lightweight”.
Lewes Gonsalves, having survived with a yellow card for a reckless challenge on Kirk Watts in the first half, was no match for the pace of Burchill and when he brought him down on the edge of the box soon after the second goal, the referee had no option but to issue a red card.
Two goals to the good and with a man advantage, Tonbridge were able to stroll through the last 20 minutes playing possession football that must have given much pleasure to manager Tommy Warrilow. Whilst the eye-catching performances came from the flying youngsters, in midfield the steel and aggression of Scott Kinch has allowed Lee Minshull more of a marauding role that better sides than Carshalton will struggle to counter.
Burchill’s loan spell ends imminently, if Warrilow can keep him until the season’s end (and he wins an appeal against a lengthy ban), then Tonbridge may well fly into the play-offs as the form side.
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